Effects of Colonization on the New World

The effects of colonization on the New World have been a controversial topic for some time. Many historians have debated for centuries about how good or bad colonization was and there are many different aspects that you must look at. Even after all this time the question still stands, unanswered, what is the impact of colonization on the New World. The first thing that the colonists did that had an impact on the New World was trading goods with the Indians. The natives were so unaccustomed to all the new items important and fickle that they would “give valuable things for trifles” just because they didn’t know. More importantly, however, was the introduction tools and weapons. All the natives were lacking and unaccustomed to every type of iron and weapon that the explorers had brought. This had a large impact on the new world because with the new implementation of these new tools the inhabitants could now work more efficiently and protect themselves better.

Tools and weapons were not the only important items that the explorers introduced to the natives that had a great impact. When explorers arrived at some parts of the new world they realized “ they have no fruit trees nor do they know of such.” When colonists them implemented fruit trees and plants it created a new, more convenient, way of producing and gathering food. Furthermore, the natives of the new world were unfamiliar with fishing. The introduction of this concept also created an easier and much more reliable food source to help the Americas grow and become more advanced.

Not everybody agrees that colonization was a positive thing for the New World. The Spaniards in particular caused major damage to the New World. “Among these gentle sheep… the Spaniards entered… like wolves, tigers, and lions which had been starving for many days” not only did they enter and kill people to establish dominance but over 500,000 were killed from being transported to Hispaniola. All over the country native...

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